From the left, Marcel Hartman (coach), Marnique Appelt, Wannes van der Voorde, Marcel Conijn, Kay Karssemakers, Raf Meuwissen, Raivo Dankers, Herjan Brakke (assistant coach)
This weekend the MXGP Rookies kicked off at the Olympic Sports Centre of Papendal (The Netherlands), with Marcel Hartman of the Dutch Federation (KNMV) as Federation coach and the selected riders. These riders from The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany have been selected for this first “Pilot”. Dutch rider Kay Karssemakers will follow a part of this program but is not internal at Papendal because of his age.
Program: all selected riders will get a program in a system of a boarding school for a period of 4 months at Papendal Sport Centrum, with the same set up as in several other sports like Judo, Athletics, BMX and other individual and team sports. Many athletes prepare the selection and participation for the Olympic Games this way. The program is based on two month preparation in physical aspects and after that, motor training is of course a big part of the program and will take place in Spain and the Netherlands.
Today the riders, together with the parents and other supervisors were present for the explanation and elucidation of several support systems like Polar heart Rate Monitors , Sports database and Nutrition. School and homework will be guided, everyday, by specialists and teachers at Papendal. In this way these young athletes can continue their education program of their home country.
Information about nutrition in the Papendal Sports Restaurant
The target of this program is to organize on annual base training periods in the Papendal Sports Centre for more selected young riders from all over the world. The purpose is to create more basic knowledge (of all aspects in sports) and trainings like other girls and boys and to use all possibilities of a professional training centre such as Papendal. Of course the specific preparation for motocross and motor training will be a big part of the program.
